[Plants and animals biological functions obtained from viruses]

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Genetics

Context:

• Viruses are recognized as sources of novel biological functions for host organisms.
• Endogenous viral elements and horizontally transferred genes from viruses are increasingly understood as significant contributors to host evolution.
• Examples span from plant stress resistance to complex animal systems like neuronal communication and placenta development.

Purpose:

• To explore the diverse roles of viral-derived genes in plants and animals.
• To highlight the evolutionary significance of viral gene integration and reuse across different taxa.
• To examine the mechanisms by which viruses contribute genetic innovations to their hosts.

Summary:

• Viruses can bestow new biological functions upon plants and animals, with some plant viruses conferring stress and parasite resistance.
• In animals, numerous virus-derived genes are utilized for protection against infections, neuronal signaling, and placenta development.
• Parasitic wasps utilize a conserved viral machinery that produces virions to overcome host defenses, demonstrating repeated evolutionary use of viral functions.

Impact:

• Understanding viral gene functions provides insights into host adaptation and evolution.
• This research underscores the dynamic interplay between viruses and hosts in shaping biodiversity.
• The study reveals a recurring theme of viral functional recruitment throughout animal evolution.